Saint Tonis College, Inc. in Commitment to Cultural Values goes International

Saint Tonis College, while a church institution, deeply values cultural practices, integrating them into all aspects of its educational endeavors. When the United Church of Christ in the Philippines- Church-Related Education Action Towards Empowerment (UCCP-CREATE) offered a cultural and educational immersion program, STCI enthusiastically participated. To ensure unbiased observations, the college selected Mayeth T. Valdez, an instructor from the College of Teacher Education, who had limited prior knowledge of Cordillera cultures.

Valdez immersed herself in Pematang Siantar City, North Sumatra, Indonesia, for a month, from January to February 2018. Her observations encompassed a wide range of cultural practices, including those related to newborns, birthdays, betrothal, weddings, wakes, funerals, and various cultural beliefs. Intriguingly, Valdez observed several striking similarities between the observed Indonesian cultures and those of the Cordillera region in the Philippines, including weaponry, garments, house designs, betel nut chewing, dance steps, tattoos, language, and even facial features.

These similarities led to the hypothesis that Kalinga province might have originated from the ancient Kalinga kingdom of Indonesia, whose exiled king remains unaccounted for. To ensure cultural reclamation and counter the potential influence of Western or K-pop culture, Valdez’s immersion experiences were documented in a comprehensive report. This report is now utilized to educate students and other stakeholders about the importance of preserving their cultural heritage.